Safety-envelop.



No. 757,310. PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

J. F. IRWIN.

SAFETY BNVELOP.

APPLICATION FILBDDEG. 16I 1903.

.gi 3 E UNITED STATES Patented April 12, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

SAFETY-ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,310, dated April 12, 1904.

Application filed December 16, 1903. Serial No. 185,432. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES F. IRWIN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety-envelops; and its object is to provide an envelop of simple construe tion having means for accurately indicating whether or not the sealing-flap of the envelop has been opened subsequent to the sealing of the envelop.

With the above and vother objects in view the invention consists of an envelop havinga tab formed with one of the side flaps thereof and projecting through the bottom iiap of the envelop, and said tab has an adhesive material thereon, whereby the same may be aiiixed upon the sealing-flap subsequent to the closing of the envelop. Y

The invention also consists of a tab which is so constructed as to be readily torn or marred, thereby accurately detecting the illegal opening of the envelop.A j

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

showing a preferred form of my invention,

and in which- Figure l is a rear elevation of a sealed envelop having my improved tab thereon. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the envelop prior to the sealing operation, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the adjoining ends of the side ilaps of the envelop and showing the tab integral with one of the ends.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, l l are the side flaps of an envelop, and formed integral with the free end of one of these ilaps isa tongue 2, having a head 3, preferably provided with a series of minute per forations 4, whereby the same may be readily torn or otherwise injured. The tongue 2 is adapted to be inserted through an angular slot 5, formed adjacent the apex of the bottom iiap 6 of the envelop. IIhis bottom iiap is, subsequent to the insertion of the tongue therein, aiiiXed to the side flaps l in the usual manner. The envelop has a sealing-flap 7 of the usual form, and after this flap has been aflixed in closed position upon the side flaps l the tongue 2 and head 3 are bent thereover and affixed thereto, as shown in Fig. l. It will therefore be understood that it is impossible to unseal the iiap 7 without either rst dletaching the head .and'tongue from the sealingiiap or breaking the stem 2. The first-mentioned operation is rendered impossible in view of the fact that any attempt to detach the head will result in the tearing of the perforated head, and therefore it will be seen that the unlawful opening of the envelop will be promptly indicated by the appearance of the tab. It will ofcourse be understood that one face of the tab is suitably gummed, so as to permit it to be readily affixed to the sealing-iiap.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferredv form of my invention; but I :lo not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my invention. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An envelop having side flaps and a slotted bottom ilap arranged thereupon, a tongue eX- tending from the inner end of one of the side liaps and through the slot in the bottom iiap, an enlarged apertured portion integral with the tongue and forming a head, and a sealingiiap adapted to overlap the side and bottom flaps and to be overlapped by and aixed to the' apertured head.'

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A JAMES E. IRWIN. Witnesses:

JOSEPH HILL, K

HARRY WRIGLEY. 

